Local News

Initiative would raise school funding

Could help schools in Morgan County

Coloradans for Better Schools collected 136,342 petition signatures — which means a proposed ballot issue to increase education funding may go to the voters in November.

That number of signatures is well above the state's 86,105 signature requirement.

Schools in Morgan County, and other parts of the state, have seen large cuts in funding that have not been restored after the Colorado economy recovered.

The initiative would raise more than $100 million, which "will be generated annually for Colorado K-12 public and charter schools by permitting expanded gaming at Arapahoe Park horse race track where wagering has been permitted for more than 20 years. In addition, an upfront payment of $25 million will also be paid to the new special education fund," says a release from the proponents of the measure.

"As we await official review and verification of our signatures from the Secretary of State, today is a significant milestone for our citizens committee and the thousands of supporters we have across the state," said former state Sen. Bob Hagedorn, a cosponsor of the ballot initiative. "We are confident our initiative will be on the November ballot and we look forward to the next few months where we will be working constantly to inform and educate Colorado voters about this initiative."

The release says that new funds will be provided as additional money for Colorado's K-12 public and charter schools and will be generated without raising taxes for Colorado citizens or cutting services from other public programs.

The initiative also allows for limited gaming at one future horse racetrack in each of Pueblo and Mesa counties once specific qualifying criteria is met, including hosting live horse racing and wagering for five continuous years. These two additional racetrack gaming facilities would provide even more revenue to K-12 public and charter schools.

"Our initiative offers voters the opportunity to provide a new, reliable and protected funding stream to improve K-12 education in Colorado," said former state Rep. Vickie Armstrong, another cosponsor. "We know Coloradans care deeply about education, but there is little appetite for broad tax increases. This initiative will not raise taxes on taxpayers by even one penny."

Proponents say, "the need for K-12 education funding is severe. Over the past five years, Colorado public and charter schools have endured more than $1 billion in funding cuts. While numerous attempts have and continue to be made to restore funding to K-12 schools, the chronic problem of under-funding remains. Colorado ranks near the bottom among all U.S. states in public per-pupil funding for education."

Teachers are seeing the impact of the loss of school funding after the cuts made during the Great Recession.

"As a former teacher and having worked within the Colorado public school system for four years, I know how crucial education is in shaping successful futures and outcomes for our state's youth. As a state, we must and can do better in ensuring adequate funding for K-12 education," said Brooke Booth, a first and second grade school teacher.

In addition to Colorado's K-12 students, workers and the state's economy will also greatly benefit from the creation of hundreds of new construction jobs initially, and hundreds more permanent jobs at the race tracks. Race track visitation will drive more customers to local businesses and provide a boost for the economy, supporters say.